New Chapter

Phew! As I'm typing I am sitting here in a cube reachable only by 5 LONGGGGG flights of stairs, located in the heart of Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras. Yes, my friends, this isthe official (promised!) first post from my life as a third year medical student of PPUKM (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Medical Centre). And to give you a feel for the new digs..

So as you can see, small but cozy, though mosquitoes are known to plague the unfortunate tenant, and hence the presence of a very handy mosquito repellent (though with a questionable amount of repellent liquid left) handed down by the previous victim of said attacks. Other than that and some very shoddy workmanship with regards to the bed, it's..... well, small and cozy.

That being said, it's now time to rant about the connection here. Seems like the wifi provided courtesy of JARING is user-based, which means you need to register, which means you need to give them what the bomohs would call 'pengeras' AKA money (perhaps the spirits need solidifying?), and which finally means, as Phua Chu Kang would say: 'No money no talk!'

And so as the reps placate us with promises that they are doing something for us (' Kitorang dah beritau kat Bangi, tapi mungkin proses ini lama sikit, mungkin Jun boleh siap kot' - Translated: The main campus is imformed, but don't expect anything till June, so buzz off!), we are left with the trusty LAN cable (also the legacy of my kind predecessor... whoever he was) to supply my online needs. Well, they block off everything including Youtube and leave Facebook and Blogger, so what do you know... Guess that's the lot of the KTDI in-hostel student. Oh well, at least I can get to go online in between enduring orientation and sleeping, since I discovered this blasted cable thingy actually works. Now for my next project...

Darn, did I just remember that I will be spirited away to Besut on Monday? :( Oh well. Another week of Internet silence it is then. Sigh.

Return

Yes, finally, I return. As I enter into a new academic year, and into new, uncharted territory, I thought really seriously about reviving my blog. Yes, reviving, not just temporary a la Pheonix Down reviving but the real deal. As I continue studying medicine, I think that this blog can also function as a way to make studying more light and hopefully more interesting.

To tell the truth, Symeon gave me the idea way back when he was in Batu Pahat, telling me exactly why his blog has such a funny name: sckhsmg. Apparently the first 4 initials are his name (duh!) and the last 3 stand for... err..... well, something to do with School of Medicine for Dummies (Alright, maybe not, but that's what it is now, too bad!). So what he did was to publish cases he encountered on his blog, leaving out sensitive material so that friends can view them and comment. Not too bad an idea if you ask me.

So, hopefully this post marks an era of new sights and sounds, new beginnings, and of course, new impetus to actually sit down and write something down for a change. Hehehe. So, adios for now, and keep your fingers crossed!

Feelings

What are feelings? Ever felt like asking that question? Medically and scientifically, it is controlled by a part of the brain that is the most underdeveloped, and maybe that accounts for why we have the least control over it. Yeah, but what are feelings?

Well, feelings are like dreams. Who has ever heard of life without dreams? Dreams keep you sane, dreams tell you things that are about to happen (I get those often, the so-called deja vu), dreams, sometimes, for people gifted with prophecy by God, tell them what God wants them tell others. And then there is the other type of dreams, the dreams that drive you, the ambition that directs your acions and which you work hard for.

Do you know the true meaning behind your dreams? Sure, sleep researchers or even old wives tales say that dreams tell you if you're stressed, you're tired or you're scared, but I don't think dreams do just that, right? Dreams are so vivid, so detailed, so... ALIVE. And what about dreams of ambition? Easily explained? Well, you dream to become somebody, but why? because you want to have that wealth or respect? Why again? Because people around you do the same? Or is it because you want to leap-frog over them in that aspect? Alright, easier question: would you be satisfied after you get that? And will you really be content that you became what you become? Some would say yes, some would say no, and others... won't know.

And that is what feelings are, or really, in essence. Feelings are so unreliable in life, they cloud up the things you see, and even for the things you do see, they are distorted. But that again, feelings also keep you the way you are. True, feelings alone make a mess out of things, but solid logic and reasoning without feelings in the form of values and moral ideas (they ARE intwined and part of each other, if you bother to acknowledge it) make a man a monster capable of anything. Feelings give a context of their own to a puzzle, to a situation, to perception, and in the end, that, coupled with other things, gives you what you need to act, to feel, and finally, to care.

But then, why do feelings cause you to be hurt? Maybe it's because feelings also cause you to be happy, to feel like you belong, to feel like you have meaning in this world, to make you feel stronger than you have never been before, to make the world seem such a bright and lovely place. Maybe that is why, like our dreams, we hold on dearly to our feelings, because in the end, we know that these feelings are part of us, and it has made us into what we have become. but beware of its trap, lest it cripple you and disable you forever. But if you know in your heart that what you feel is real, and there is no way you can let it go willingly, maybe it is best to hold it close, always hoping, always searching and forever watching that horizon for what you believe in.

Man, I didn't know I could be that emo. LOLZ. Well, lessons are learnt, and maybe that will be what leads you in the future. That and feelings, I suppose. =>

A Musty Den

Ah yes, finally I return to the den. Wait, why does it smell like it was abandoned? Oh yeah...



Sorry all, but I HAVE been so very busy with studies in medicine school that I really can't find the time to blog... Or even to go to the cyber cafe regularly (connections at college... sigh, let's not go there, shall we...) But now, with the first year behind me and 6 blissful weeks of holidays in front of me... Mwahahahahahahahaha =>



Anyway, updates! Finally got a new camera, with which I shall endeavour to capture some juicy moments of my time in university life... However, don't keep your hopes up too high, I can't guarantee you much...Anyway, in this course of time, I went to Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Cheras (yes, my university has it's own hospital, duh!) => and the photos taken are below....







Alright, that is the building, HUGE... Took me a while before I could really find my way around the place... All wards look the same... Well, sort of. Anyway, Was clerking patients (nope, its the term for taking history [nope... Sigh, you get the idea]) for my Clinical Science module, supposedly an exposure into the world which I will end up in during the 3rd year onwards...



Had other outings during the semesters, one of which was the Khidmat Masyarakat (Community Service) project. Had a great time at FELDA, doing some clinical screenings for diabetes, a variety show, and so on and so forth...
A picture of the clinical booths we set up.... I was in charge of history taking, my 'foster brother' for the project was at blood pressure, Karen and some of the girls were at the BMI, blood glucose tests and such...



This was my group presentation, a singing presentation... Sang a medley of many songs, both english pop and some malay oldies, as well as some new ones. No, didn't win, thanks for asking...

And that will be my foster family during my stay. Really nice emak and abah, forever feeding us to the brim with my personal favourite, fried fish.. *licks lips*

Anyway, I also had what we call 'faculty night', attended by all members of my 1st year medicine faculty... But that I will write on in detail, in another post. Lolz... And so, the year passed, with new friends and new beginnings, new insights and new discoveries into the soul. Somehow, I feel it was a roller-coaster of sorts, but if I were given the chance, I'll go through it again. Thank You, God, for opening doors and leading me here. I am so blessed. :) Alright, enough babbling for now, g'nite!

Home At Last!

Home sweet home! Yes, I am finally home after 2 months of wandering the streets of Kuala Lumpur... Well, actually, the streets of my college, which is nothing to shout about... Anyway, finished my formative assessment for the module (don't ask how it went, you wouldn't want to know), rushed back to the apartment to pack, and managed to put in a round of DOTA before my parents picked me up. Well, I need to de-stress too, you know? Oh, and Soon Lee, I think I pick Rouge Knight as my regular, though I like Bristleback and Lord of Olympia as well...



Hey, where am I going? Oh yes, coming home. Firstly, went to the MATTA fair in PWTC (it stands for Malaysian Travel something-or-the-other, didn't really catch the last bit) where you can find tour packages and travel flights galore... Well, my mom wanted to go, so we spent the better part of a half-hour looking for the darn parking bays, and off we went. Honestly, the extent of the thing was HUGE! Took up three halls just to fit in all the different booths and what-nots. Especially liked the Yokoso! Japan booth, with the pleasing colours and fake sakuras. They even dressed up in yukatas to make it look authentic... Anyway, after filling 2 bags with travel flyers and brocheurs (which STILL doesn't make up for the RM9 entry fee, even if we sold the whole lot to the old newspaper man...), went to Jalan Ipoh for some bak kut teh (incidently, the same joint I went to right before I went to UKM), which was simply superb! Okay, for the confused/curious, bak kut teh is literally translated as 'meat and bone tea', which means meat broiled in a sort of 'tea' made from certain herbs, absolutely mouth-watering stuff, this... Then, HOME! Oh, how glorious it is to be home, to be among family, among familiar and comforting sights, my dogs and SUPERULTRAFASTWIRELESSSPEEDS!!!! Mwahahahahaha....

Ok, lost myself there for a moment... Sorry, guys. Anyway, headed to the usual place for a lateh session with the remaining two survivors in Batu Pahat, Yeong Tai and Song Lin. Well, not for long... SL is going off Sunday, and YT is leaving Tuesday... Talked a whole load of crap as usual, before heading home... And now it's time to hit the sack, so GOOD NIGHT PEOPLE! And hello, my comfy bed! ZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz......